Recycling, Compost, and Garbage

Waste 101

Did you know that the State of California anticipates the average City of San Mateo resident should produce about 5.8 pounds of garbage each day and the average employee should produce about 13.3 pounds of garbage each day?

Yet here in the City of San Mateo, our average resident produces only 3.9 pounds of waste per day while our employees average only 7.6 pounds. With your continued help, our City can continue to reach for the goal of producing Zero Waste.

As of 2015, the City of San Mateo achieved close to a diversion rate of 73%! This means that close to three quarters of all debris produced in San Mateo is sent to recycling, composting or alternative fuel instead of the landfill. Not only is this better for the environment but it will also help to keep our city clean and beautiful. With the combined efforts of our residents, businesses, and partnerships between the Department of Public Works and a number of waste management and recycling companies, we to continue to work together in realizing this long term goal.